1955 Jaguar D-Type Sells for $5 Million

The RM Auction in Paris on Feb. 5 was of one of RM’s most prestigious yet, and produced a revenue of €17,700,000 (approx. $24,072,000 USD). One of the largest successes from the auction was the purchase of a 1955 Jaguar D-Type from the Harburg Collection, which sold for €3,696,000 (approx. $5,000,000 USD), a world record for D-Type’s altogether.

According to a Feb. 6 press release from RM Auctions, the classic sports car was purchased new by Bob Stillwell, an Australian racecar driver who raced the D-Type to success.The Jaguar was Chassis XKD 520, a very rare racing version of the popular D-Type sports car and, with its great history, the key to the high value of this wonderful classic.

The RM Auctions constantly bring to light some of the most valuable classics on the market around the world, and the Jaguar D-Type was not the only to go for such a high price in Paris. For full details, read the press release below. Also found below is a top 10 list of the highest sold vehicles at the Paris auction.below.

1955 JAGUAR D-TYPE SELLS FOR €3,696,000 AS RM’S INAUGURAL PARIS AUCTION GENERATES IN EXCESS OF €17.7 MILLION IN SALES

Paris

RM enjoys fantastic debut sale in Paris with €17,701,680 worth of sales and 80 percent of all lots sold

Top seller is a legendary 1955 Jaguar D-Type which sold for €3,696,000 establishing a new auction world record for the model

The 1982 ex-Works Porsche 956 sells for €2,352,000 and also establishes a new world record for a 956 sold at auction

Beautiful and historic 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider rounds off the top three sales of the night, achieving €1,960,000

PARIS (6 February, 2014) – RM Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles, is delighted to announce the highly successful results of its debut sale in Paris on the 5 February, 2014, posting a total sales figure of €17,701,680, with 80 percent of all lots sold.

The star of the night was the truly wonderful 1955 Jaguar D-Type, part of the Harburg Collection, which sold for €3,696,000, establishing a new world record for a D-Type at auction. Chassis XKD 520, which boasts an extensive early racing history, was the seventh production D-type made and was sold new to Australian, Bob Stillwell, who raced the car with great success in the 1956 and 1957 seasons, including the 1956 Bathurst 500. Unquestionably one of the best production D-Types in existence, this remarkable car presented collectors with an exceptionally rare opportunity.

Another car from the Harburg Collection, and the second biggest seller of the night, was the awe-inspiring 1982 Porsche 956 Group C Sports-Prototype , chassis 004, which ran as a Works car at Le Mans finishing 3rd in ’82 driven by Haywood/Holbert/Barth, completing a historic podium clean sweep for the Porsche Works team that year. With continued history as a Works car during 1983 and 1984, chassis 004 was the focus of much attention during the auction, which ultimately resulted in a record price of €2,352,000. Another stunning Harburg car, the glorious 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider, chassis 0498 M, boasting a remarkable, fully documented, race history, secured €1,960,000, rounding off the top three sellers of the auction.

Not content with securing the top three sales of the night, another Harburg car, the delightful 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS,also generated huge interest, not least because of its remarkable period racing history in the hands of well-known privateer racer and Works Frazer Nash driver, Dickie Stoop. Presented in immaculate condition, the car achieved an impressive €1,288,000.

Max Girardo, managing director, RM Europe, said: “We’ve had a fantastic night here in Paris. We wanted our debut sale to impress by bringing some exceptional cars to market, and with over €17.7m sold and almost 80 percent of all lots finding new homes, we have continued our amazing track record in Europe. Without a doubt, it was an honour to offer the Harburg Collection, which perfectly demonstrates that the market is hungry for quality cars with important historical provenance”.

Another lot worthy of particular note, is the 1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman Landaulet, a totally original example of this incredibly rare German limousine, which was offered in untouched ‘barn find’ condition, and which ultimately sold for an astounding €537,600, against its pre-sale estimate of €80,000-€120,000.